Marcos Jr.  greets b-day girl Sara: Ignore the tambaloslos

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos greeted his “BFF” (best friend forever) Vice President Sara Duterte on her 45th birthday yesterday and advised her to ignore the “tambaloslos” around her.

“Inday, Sara, happy birthday. I hope you enjoy yourself and take a break from work,” Marcos said in Cebuano in a video message posted on his social media accounts.

“I hope you make some time for yourself and ignore the tambaloslos around you,” the President said, laughing.

Duterte posted a photo on her Instagram account on May 21, saying one should not be a tambaloslos for the sake of ambition.

“Sa imong ambisyon, do not be tambaloslos,” the Vice President said.

Tambaloslos is a Visayan mythical creature known for its large mouth and a penis the size of its own torso to confuse and mislead others. It is also a Cebuano slang used to insult men who are all talk, inept or foolish.

The Vice President’s remark came days after an alleged foiled “coup” against Marcos’ cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, and her resignation from the Lakas-CMD, where Romualdez serves as president.

Her post came after her close political ally, former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was demoted from senior deputy speaker to deputy speaker.

Arroyo has denied planning a coup to oust Romualdez.

In a speech during the launch of Pier 88 in Cebu on May 27, Marcos described himself as the “official BFF” and “number one fan” of Duterte. Romualdez was also present at the launch.

Marcos and Duterte were running mates in the May 2022 elections.

Duterte, concurrent education secretary, celebrated her birthday without fanfare and instead climbed the country’s highest mountain, Mt. Apo, on the eve of her natal day.

Due to tight security implemented to cover her climb, she and her close-in party descended through the trail passing through Kidapawan City in North Cotabato.

Duterte did not have any schedule yesterday that was recorded with the Office of the Vice President. She was said to have spent the day with her family in Davao City.

The eldest daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte served thrice as Davao City mayor and once as vice mayor.

A lawyer, Duterte makes sure she is able to discharge her tasks as the country’s second highest official and at the same time be a doting mother to her three children.  – Edith Regalado